The Alkali woods is a rugged back-country forest. It is dark and because of its location, receives little sunlight. It is cluttered with monsters and is a notable hiding place for criminals as well as mercenaries.

Act

Quests:

Name: Stir CrazyType: Defeat a Specific CharacterDescription: "We've been in this cramped Forest for a while now...we should familiarize ourselves with a more compact manner of fighting." -Pyra-Specification: Defeat Two MonstersRequirements: None

Free Roam allows you to basically walk around in any kingdom or other location. If you wish to begin one of the quests, you merely place at the top of your post [Attn:(Insert Quest Name Here)]. This will automatically begin the quest and any and all NPC's in your party will join in for said quest. You may also Sandbox during this period and talk to random characters you make up on the fly for the sake of conversation and storytelling. You may only end Free Roam if you are not in the middle of a quest. When a quest stops, you may only stop if you are defeated as your characters will awaken in the In-Game-Infirmary. Some quests advance whether you lose or die. Only when all Players' characters die will the quest end. The NPC's do not count in this. To leave Free Roam, place [Attn:End Free Roam]. Alternately, complete all Red bolded quests. These will usually spawn story related events that eventually lead to the end of your current stay in a location. Also during certain quests and in certain locations, every other post of mine will incorporate a random number generator that basically decides if the party gets into a battle. When we get into a battle...we get into a battle, ya gotta fight. Mechanic fights will not ever involve fighting more than maybe 4-6 enemies at once. Non-Mechanic fights is basically sand boxing, do whatever you want. If you wish to just Sandbox in Free Roam, simply continue on as normal without any special [Attn:] code.

[Attn: Open]

Only a few days into travel, the party walks up to the edge of the Alkali Woods. The area was dark and morbid. If anything at all, Kameo may feel right at home. Pyra stares up at the eerie trees then marches inside, determined to reach her destination.

Lance stands at the edge of the woods for a moment then walks inside. "I would merely prefer not to have to take the back way when we should be in the front lines, fighting the icy demons that plague us."

For once Cane doesn't respond though he does smirk whilst walking with his hands behind his head.

"You are doing what the Queen and King ordered you to do. If they needed you to be on the front lines they would have put you there." Kameo shrugs as she watches Cane race ahead. 'Well better him than us.' She thinks to herself.

It is strange, Kameo does feel at home in this forest. If her mission wasn't urgent she may plead with the others to spent some time here. She touches a branch to move it out of her way. She really does need to get out into the world more.

The group stops not long after as Pyra sits down on a rock. It had been getting late. Perhaps they should take the time to rest. But here? "If we're going to sleep here then someone's gonna be lookout," Cane says.

"And how, criminal, do you propose we decide who?"

Cane then tosses his blade up and catches it once it drops back into his hand. Suddenly several twigs fall from the tree above him. "Shortest stick stays up."

"Whatever, I will draw." Kameo waits as the guys pick their sticks before picking hers. She puts her hand on the third stick as they all pull their sticks up. Lance is the (un)lucky winner. "Well if you need me I will be sleeping over there." She points to a level spot.

She looks over a Pyra, wondering if she is doing alright. She didn't insist on drawing herself. Then again the guys would have had a problem with her keeping a watch.

The chill in the air wakes Kameo out of her sleep, not that it is was a deep one to begin with. She stands up and looks around. It is dark outside. She rubs her arms and walks around the area, ignoring Lance as she does. She sits down on a rock away from everyone, but close enough to maintain visual contact. She looks up to the mountain and sighs upon seeing it almost frozen over. Her thoughts instantly go to the royal family. They should have come with.

She would never tell anyone, but she owes the royal family. They are the reason she made it through that horrific night.

As the forest got denser, Kameo becomes more nervous. Her eyes darting around as she walks. She almost jumps out of her skin when Pyra slightly bumps her.

She scowls as Cane demands they go into a single file. "I am not a child you know."

Lance is the next to speak. She rolls her eyes. "Looks like I will be depending on my magic then, since there isn't much room for my weapon. Which is fine by me, I am more skilled with my magic than my weapon anyway."

"Well, in that case, let's see about a little spar time," Cane says, drawing his blade. He suddenly hears the sound of a twig break. However, it doesn't come from below their feet. It comes from up above. The lot of them then look up. Four Vultear. "Ah crud."

The monsters suddenly all begins squawking and attack. "Get ready!" Pyra says, drawing her own blade.

ATTACKED!

New Mechanic Activated: Stage 1 Battle Mechanics:

Welcome to the first of many Battle Tutorials! The Battle System is very complex but worry not, all of the more complicated things are done for you. Being that this is only the first Tutorial, we will cover the basics. Doing Damage (Dmg). First of all, you have your Basic "A-Button" attacks. These attacks have no name. They are basic and low powered slashes, punches, etc (They are attacks that are all Physical or Ranged Physical. No Magic). Then there are your moves. As any RPG character has, you have a list of special moves to accompany your basic ones. Let's focus on Basic Attacks first. To use a basic attack, simply state the action (specs, in your case that'd mean attacking the one monster programmed to attack you with your weapon and not your magic). Example: Bob threw a number of punches at Joe. A basic attack may be worded as descriptively as you like. Try attacking Lucas with a Basic Attack and we will move on from there. Try doing one attack.

"Sparring, why do I need to waste my time with that? Isn't that wha..." Was all Kameo could get out before hearing a crack. It sounds like it came from above. Kameo looks up and sees the Vultears. She curses under her breath as the creatures begin to squawk and descend

Kameo takes her polearm off her back. She waits for the creature to descend into range before thrusting the pole arm up at the beast.

Vultear descends right into the polearm thrust and shuffles back after swatting the attack off with its wing. It squawks angrily at Kameo then hunkers down, issuing a warning stage.

Tutorial Continuation:

Good. Basic attacks have a base damage of 5 for Level 1 characters, not factoring in additions based on their stats. Basic attacks may only include up to five actions a turn. You would state your actions. If the targets blocks or evades, the combo is broken and unfinished and it moves to the next character's turn. If your combo consisted of three actions; Two Punches and One Kick, The opponent's block of the first negated the effects of the others. Had you managed to hit him, you would have done the damage for three attacks of base 5 Dmg. Please note that the designated action of the combo that is blocked is determined via random number generator. Now it's your opponent's turn.

Vultear then rushes forward, its beak glowing. It bobs its head around five to try and peck her.

Kameo holds her polearm horzontially to keep the vultear's beak at bay. She holds it as high as she possibly can, keeping the beak as far away as she can. Then when she's clear, she takes a swing at the Vultear in a sideswipe before swinging her polearm around and swinging down over the Vultear's head.

"Oh this is getting repetitive." Kameo grumbles as the Vutlear once again tries to peck her. She knocks the beak out of the way with her polearm. She then thrusts her polearm at the Vultear pulling it closer than she wanted to, following it up with a kick.

The Vultear flaps it's wings to get airborne. "Oh crap" Kameo exclaims. She starts to chant a spell enveloping herself in darkness. The Vultear loses sight of her. Kameo smirks watching the Vultear looking around. She takes her polearm and swipes it across the chest of the Vultear. Followed by two quick head shots and another swipe across the chest in the opposite direction. And lastly she thrusts the polearm into the creatures stomach. She hides in the darkness to catch her breath, this time thankful the others don't see her. She has never fought this intensely physically before, usually relying on her magic.

The Vultear squawks in annoyance and looks around for Kameo. It squawks against repeatedly, now in confusion. It then sees Kameo and growls, flying straight up before tucking its wings and dive bombing at her.

Tutorial Conclusion:

Good! You're doing fine now. These were just the basics. Keep doing this until one of your wins! Good luck.

Kameo's eyes grew upon seeing the Vultear dive-bombing her. She knows she is going to be hit, there is not enough room to move. She holds her polearm in front of her again, hoping to absorb most of the impact with that and her arms. The bird like creature knocks her to the ground. Kameo takes off her gloves and with her claw like fingers she scratches the Vultear's eyes. She hopes to impair its vision.

She then grabs the polearm and pushes it upward moving the Vultear off of her and hits it alongside the head.

Kameo falls to her knees. "I hope that is good enough of a spar for you." She grumbles while wiping the sweat off her brow. She slowly stands and walks over to Pyra. "Come on let's find a place to rest."

Kameo looks at the ground. "I am fine." She didn't want to admit it, especially to them, but she is scared. She looks up at Pyra with her typical smirk. "Don't worry about me, I've survived worse." She sits tall, but her eyes continue to dart around. The rest of her senses are on high alert.